Erecting device for gyro-verticals



Aug. 17, 1943. w LANE 2,326,784.

ERECTING DEVICE FOR GYROVERT1CALS Filed Jan. 29, 1942 FIG. 1

i nu qg i v FIG. 4

INVENTOR 2 ARTHUR w. LANE Patented Aug. 17, 1943 'ERECTING DEVICE FOR GYRQ-VERTICALS Arthur W. Lane, Freeport, N. Y., assignor to Sperry Gyroscope Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 29, 1942, Serial No. 428,694

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an erecting device for gyro-verticals or artificial horizon instrimients and more particularly concerns an improvement in a device of this character which is pneumatically operated and controlled by the force of gravity.

An object of the invention is to provide an erector control for gyroscopic instrument of the type described which actually obtain true vertical erection of the spin axis of the rotor in its bearing frame, as distinguished from generally similar kinds of erector controls which eflect movement of the instrument that approaches but does not reach this desired position.

One of the features of the invention resides in provision of a gravity responsive valve element by which the pneumatic erecting force of the instrument is controlled.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provided normally effective means for rotating the controlling valve element of the erecting device.

Still a further feature resides in the structural provision of a circumferential channel in the valve element of the erecting device which extends substantially one-fourth the peripheral dimension of the element and provides a single communicating passageway to a plurality of ports in an erector case for the instrument.

Other objects, features and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a conventiona1 type of gyro-vertical in which for illustrative purposes an erecting device constructed in acccrdance with the present invention is embodied, the outer casing of the gyro-vertical being partly shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail cross-section of the improved erecting device removed from position on the rotor bearin case of the gyro-vertical, the view being taken on line 2-2, in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the erecting device as shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail exploded perspective view illustrating the valve element of the improved erecting device.

The conventional gyro-vertical or artificial hrizon instrument employed in demonstrating a general form of application of the erecting device of the present invention includes a rotor bearing frame or case I!) in which the yroscopic or gyro rotor element (not shown) is mounted so that its axis of spin is situated in a normal vertical position. When so situated, the gyro rotor and the frame therefor are located in a normal erected position. Means are provided of customary form for universally supporting the rotor bearing frame or case [0 with freedom about two, mutually perpendicular, normally horizontal axes. Such means may include, as shown, a gimbal ring H in which the frame is pivoted by suitable trunnions and bearings on an athwartship or traverse axis as well known in the art. The gimbal ring II, in turn, is also pivoted by similar means on a fore and aft axis within the outer enclosing casing 2. In the form of instrument shown, air is employed to spin and erect the gyro rotor, the outer casing l2 consequently being evacuated by a suitable suction device (not shown) which is connected to the exhaust pipe l3 for this purpose. Air at atmospheric pressure is admitted to the instrument through a filter containing aperture (not shown) in the casing I2 and moves through suitable passageways (not shown) in the trunnion support and the gimbal ring II to within the case It), at which point it is directed by means of nozzles (not shown) against suitable buckets situated on the periphery of the gyro rotor. The used air is withdrawn from the rotor bearing frame or case l0 through ports l5, l5, l1 and IB located in an erector case I9 which is suitably secured, in this instance, to the bottom portion of the rotor bearing case In.

The artificial horizon instrument further includes other known features of construction such as the horizon bar 2|, mask 22, and the mechanism for controlling the operation of the bar 2| from the bearing frame or case In which includes the slotted and counterweighted long lever arm 23 pivotally mounted on the gimbal ring H as indicated at 24. In the instance shown, the arm 23 is actuated by pin 25 which extend through an arcuate slotted opening 26 in the gimbal ring II and is situated on the end of a short arm 21 mounted on one of the athwartship trunnions of support for the rotor bearing frame or case ID. A suitable window is provided in the front or face of the gyro-vertical instrument through which the position of the horizon bar 2| with relation to a desirable reference or fixed index may be observed.

In accordance with the present invention, the

erector case I!) is preferably constructed in the form of a hollow cylinder whose lowermost end 29 is closed. The apertures or ports through which air passes from the interior of the rotor bearing case or frame l0 to the inside of the airtight casing enclosure l2 of the instrument are preferably four in number, as designated at l5, I6, H and I8, the same being arranged in evenly spaced radial relationship in the wall of the cylindrical portion of the erector case. Furthermore, opposed ports l5 and H are preferably situated in spaced parallel relation to the fore and aft axis of support for the bearing frame provided by the gimbal ring H and, similarly, ports and I8 are likewise situated with relation to the provided athwartship axis of support for the frame. The port are consequently so positioned with respect to the provided universal support as to exert an erecting torque effecting the frame of the instrument which is directed to restore the gyro rotor to an erected position or one in which its spin axis is vertically positioned. It will be understood that the directed erecting torque is obtained from a particular one Or adjacent pair of the plural number of ports employed, the air jet issuing therefrom effecting this result. The remaining ports in the erector case are rendered ineffective or blocked in accordance with the teaching of the invention as hereinafter more particularly described.

The improved erecting device includes a valve element which cooperates with the ports in the case for controlling the passage of air to the ports. In the construction shown, the valve forming element is made of two adjoining cylindrical parts, the upper part being indicated at 39 and the lower part at 3|. Part is provided with a diametrically located key 32 which fits in and engages the upper portion of a slot or groove 33 contained in the lower part 3|. The respective valve parts form an integral unit which is rotatably mounted within the erector case l9 by means of suitable bearing supports such as designated at 35 and 36. The spin axis of the rotatatble valve element situated within the case I9 is arranged, in the instance shown, in coaxial relation to the normal vertical position of the spin axis of the gyro rotor.

The lowermost part 3| of the valve element includes a circumferential channel as designated at 39 which extends substantially one-fourth of the peripheral dimension of the cylindrically formed valve element and registers with all of the ports in the case l9 during rotation thereof. The construction of this portion of the valve is also such that passage of air is blocked to all of the ports in the case other than the one or adjacent pair which the channel 39 registers with. Consequently, the channel 39 in valve part 3| provides a passageway in the valve element which communicates with and facilitates the passage of air out of only one or an adjacent pair of the ports in the erector case H! at a time. When the gyroscopic rotor is properly erected, means are provided for rotating the valve element in the form of the inclined vanes 40 situated in the peripheral area of the valve part 30 and located in contiguous relation with respect to the channel 39 in the valve part 3|. Such means are normally effective for this purpose, air passing from the interior of the rotor bearing case I0 over the inclined vanes 40 into the channel 39 and out of successive ports I5, I8, I! and I6 as the valve element rotates. The time interval during which air passes out of any one of the successively cooperating ports in the case is of insufficient duration to cause the rotor frame to move out of its normally maintained position.

The valve element of the improved erecting device also includes a normally ineffective gravity responsive means which is movable in the groove 33 provided in the lower part 3| of the element. The means shown in this connection is a ball 4| which is located in a normal position in the full line indication thereof in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The lower surface of the groove 33 is preferably curved as indicated at 42 and the ball is confined to radial movement in only a portion of the groove by means of a stop 43. With the pin 43 positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the novel erecting devic is operative with the gyro rotor spinning in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the top of Fig. 1. If the gyro motor is spun in the opposite direction, it is necessary to change the position of pin 43 and place it in the groove on the opposite side of the centralized ball. Ther is no relation between the direction of rotation of the valve element and. the gyro rotor. Upon departure of the spin axis of the rotor from a vertical or erected position, the frame ID and the case If! tilt correspondingly and the ball 4| or gravity responsive means moves to a position in the groove 33 indicated by the dotted line position of ball 4| in Fig. 2 in which the ball seeks the lowermost position of the then inclined circular travel of the valve element and stops the valve element from rotating. The torque then exerted by the ball 4| on the valve element exceeds the torque exerted by the air passing through the vanes 40. The normally effective means for rotating the valve element is consequently rendered ineffective by the gravity responsive means. The confining groove 33 for the ball 4| is further positioned in substantially right angle relation with respect to the port communicating passageway defined by channel 39 in valve part 3| so that, when rotation of the valve is stopped, air is permitted to issue from the required port or ports in the case to restore the gyro rotor to its normal erected position. Upon restoration of normal conditions the gravity responsive member returns to its central position within the erector case l9 and the valve element is again able to rotate as previously described.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An erecting device for gyro-verticals comprising in combination, a gyroscopic rotor, a bearing frame for the rotor, means for universally supporting said frame with freedom about two, mutually perpendicular, normally horizontal axes and with the axis of spin of the rotor situated in a normally vertical position, a case mounted on said frame having a plurality of ports from which air jets 'issue to exert an erecting torque thereon, a rotatably mounted valve element for controlling the passage of air to the ports in the case having a passageway therein communicating with and facilitating the passage of air out of only one or an adjacent pair of the ports at a time, normally effective means for rotating said valv element when the rotor is normally positioned, and normally ineffective gravity responsive means, for said valve element movable in a groove situated in substantially right angle relation with respect to the port communicating passageway therein, operable, upon departure of the spin axis of the rotor from a vertical position, to render said rotating means ineffective and to stop said valve element to permit the passage of air through the required port or ports in the case to restore the spin axis of the rotor to its normal vertical position.

2. In a gravity controlled, pneumatically operated, erecting device for gyro-verticals, the combination of, a gyro rotor, a bearing frame for the rotor, a universal support for said rotor bearing frame, a case on said frame having ports therein from which air jets issue to exert an erecting torque thereon, a rotatably mounted valve element for controlling the passage of air to the ports in said case by blocking all but one or an adjacent pair of said ports, normally efiective means for rotating said valve element when the gyro rotor is erect, and normally ineffective gravity responsive means, for said valve element movable in a groove situated in substantially right angle relation with respect to the controlling passageway therein, operable,

upon tilt of the gyro rotor from an erected position, to render said rotating means ineffective and to position said then stationary valve element to permit the passage of air through the required port or ports in the case to restore the gyro rotor to an erected position.

3. An erecting device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the rotatable valve member is arranged in coaxial relation with respect to the spin axis of the gyroscopic rotor.

4. An erecting device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the normally efiective means for rotating the valve element comprises a plurality of inclined vanes situated in the peripheral area of the element.

5. An erecting device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the communicating passageway in the valve element is formed by a circumferential channel in the element that extends substantially one-fourth of the peripheral dimension of the element.

6. An erecting device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the rotating valve element is constructed of two circular parts joined to provide contiguous peripheral areas which on one hand include a plurality of spaced vanes and on the other hand a circumferential channel.

7. An erecting device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the gravity responsive means consists of a freely movable ball situated within a radially extending groove provided therefor in the rotatable valve element.

8. An erecting device for gyro-verticals comprising a universally supported rotor bearing frame and a gyro rotor therein, a case on said frame having a plurality of ports from which air jets issue to exert an erecting torque thereon, a rotatably mounted valve element within said case for controlling the passage of air to the ports, means for rotating said valve element when the gyro rotor is erect, and gravity responsive means for said valve element operable, upon departure of the gyro rotor from an erect position, to stop the rotation of said element and permit the passage of air through the required port or adjacent pair of ports in the case to restore the gyro rotor to an erected position.

ARTHUR W. LANE. 

